Recent History
Nov. 10, 1999, By Charity Wallace, Daily News Staff
Along the walls of the Pouce Coupe Post Office sits a display of war veterans, their pictures, medals and the history of their experience. It’s a project of ex-soldier and post office employee Ray Strand who wants to keep the memories of these brave men and women alive.
“When people come read the stories they are interested to know where they were and what they did,” Strand says. “It was a sacrifice just by being there. Even those who stayed behind were important to the war efforts, not everyone can go.”
Strand started putting up the display last year. He says that every year he finds a few more people and stories.
“These are the people who served and lived in Pouce, or are related,” he says. “I wrote up stories and put up their pictures and medals — that way the younger generation can look and keep the memories alive.”
Strand says that the memories are quite often forgotten. In 1963 Strand joined the British Army and he is interested in history and collects medals. He says that most people are very co-operative when they find out that they don’t have to reveal any private or personal memories. Strand is interested in the story but not the details.
The display boards were welded by a friend and Strand reproduced pictures and medals with a laser printer to get a quality image.
He says he will do the display again next year and it will most likely be bigger.
“This is something I will keep showing for many years to come.”